After pulling off a last-minute deal with the New York Mets on Sunday to bring back catcher Ali Sánchez, the Boston Red Sox wasted no time slotting him onto their 40-man roster and promoting him to the majors as a September call-up the very next day.
Sánchez’s big-league résumé is still thin — just 47 games, with a .185/.222/.235 slash line to show for it. Meanwhile, Connor Wong hasn’t fared much better this season, hitting only .189/.253/.231. That opens the door for Sánchez to potentially challenge Wong for the backup job behind Carlos Narváez. It won’t be a high-profile position battle, but it could decide who earns a spot on Boston’s postseason roster.
With Narváez, Wong, and now Sánchez in the mix, the Red Sox will carry three catchers into the season’s final month. For the moment, Sánchez is mostly an insurance option should injuries strike. Still, the decision to trade for him in the first place underscores a glaring organizational weakness behind the plate — one Boston will need to seriously address when the offseason arrives.
Red Sox’s last minute roster move highlights Boston’s dire offseason need
The Red Sox clearly need a more reliable option behind Carlos Narváez, and Connor Wong hasn’t shown that he can fill the role. While he’s flashed occasional ability at the plate, he’s struggled to produce consistently. If Narváez were to cool off or miss time with an injury, Boston would be left without a dependable bat to balance the lineup.
Catcher is the most demanding position on the field, and Wong’s underperformance makes it difficult to justify regular playing time for him. That only adds to Narváez’s workload, which is risky over a long season. Relying too heavily on one catcher could wear him down and ultimately reduce his effectiveness.
No contender can afford to enter September with just one trusted backstop. Wong’s inconsistency leaves the Red Sox vulnerable, as the drop-off behind Narváez is steep enough to cost games in a tight playoff race. If Wong isn’t providing clear value defensively — whether through game management or working with the pitching staff — then Boston’s recent move to reacquire Ali Sánchez looks less like a depth boost and more like a direct challenge. The message is simple: someone has to step up, or the Red Sox will be forced to seek stability elsewhere.
